Vincent George

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Vincent George grew up in Newburgh, New York. Deriving inspiration from his artist family and the rolling hills of his northern home, George committed himself to art at a young age.

His early works offer evidence of his early dedication to the craft. Using brown paper bags he retrieved from the grocery store, the adolescent artist fashioned mock-canvases. Though wrinkled, the blank sheets provided the perfect surface for charcoal, his childhood medium of choice. He spent hours upon hours using these unlikely tools. This would begin to shape him into the seasoned artist he would later become.

George's youth was largely spent hiking in the summers and skiing in the winters. He often brought a sketchbook on his hikes, and it was not long before sketching began to take precedence over the outdoor activity itself. At the age of 14, he began using paint to embellish the rough sketches he brought back from hiking. While George was involved in football, basketball, and baseball throughout high school, he likely surpassed his peers in terms of deciding on a career path. By 17, creating works of art became George's top priority. It was during this time period that he was able to work on art-related projects, including the occasional mural and private portrait commission.

George was accepted to Savannah College of Art & Design, but after a year decided the environment at The Pratt Institute was more suitable. There, he studied Illustration and Communications Design. He found himself immediately swept up by his surroundings, exhilarated by the uniqueness of the Brooklyn, New York campus's landscape. Even so, his preference for quiet rural places was only reinforced by the experience.

After receiving his Bachelor's degree from The Pratt Institute, George accepted a job near his hometown of Newburgh as an illustrator and industrial designer, a decision influenced by his uncle, who designs medical equipment and more - to this day. Throughout these years, George occasionally used a studio space he created in his home. Unfortunately, much of his time was occupied by odd jobs he took on to pay the bills. He dreamed of painting full-time, but that didn't become a reality until two years later. Eager to escape the hustle and bustle of New York City, George relocated to Georgia. It was there that his desire to create was reinvigorated. Reuniting with nature and its many vibrant elements again played a large role in his renewed vision. He found the courage to step outside the belief that he had to have a full- time, salaried job in order to be happy and successful.

Today, George continues to perfect his painting style. The Evergreen series has a special place in his heart since every painting is infused with bits and pieces of his upbringing in the lush landscape of New York.
Regardless of where he has lived or what he was doing at the time, George says he has always come back to visual art in the end. For him, transferring the gorgeous scenes in his head onto canvas is not merely a means to make a living. It is an extension of himself; a necessary and delicate process he ultimately could not survive without.